How scared where you?

[WaterGuru]

How scared were you when you started your own business?

[Prestige-Lawncare]

Let's just say ... if it doesn't scare you, it's not an adventure worth taking. It's going to be scary, but you have to meet it head on and with determination to succeed.

Remember ... the glass is half full.

Dave

[CurbAppeal33]

I am in the same boat for this upcoming year. What ideas do have to get started? What do you plan to purchase?

best of luck

[Rons Rightway Lawncare]

I used to get scared all the time, still do from time to time.

Mainly scared about how I would pay bills in the winter.... Scared of getting cancellations....

Anyway, if you have the right attitude and learn how to manage money and properly save up for winter, there isn't much to be scared about.

[WaterGuru]

I am in the same boat for this upcoming year. What ideas do have to get started? What do you plan to purchase?

best of luck


I am going to be doing just irrigation service. I have everything i need, except clients!

Been doing this for many years, and after the year I had, I decided it was time to do it for myself. See my post here http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=169997

[CurbAppeal33]

I won't be doing irrigation. I will be do mowing, trimming, blowing, hedging, pruning, aeration, overseeding and fert apps.

My biggest thing is advertising for customers. Any ideas? I know flyers, door hangers, and ad in the paper but I would like to do best option first.

[WaterGuru]

I am planning on doing direct mail outs. Just trying to decide where to rent/buy the address list from.

I also plan on doing a little advertising in a local magazine like a penny saver or flyer mag. Not sure any of this will work.

I also plan on doing HOAs and commercial jobs. For the commercial jobs I will be doing a lot of cold calls and job site visits. Thats really the only way to get commercial jobs. You need to get in there and meet the property managers.

I am also going to go after apartment complexes. As the managers are alway on site and are easier to track down.
I can't say that is good for you or anyone, just what I plan on doing.

[Uranus]

I am planning on doing direct mail outs. Just trying to decide where to rent/buy the address list from.

I also plan on doing a little advertising in a local magazine like a penny saver or flyer mag. Not sure any of this will work.

I also plan on doing HOAs and commercial jobs. For the commercial jobs I will be doing a lot of cold calls and job site visits. Thats really the only way to get commercial jobs. You need to get in there and meet the property managers.

I am also going to go after apartment complexes. As the managers are alway on site and are easier to track down.
I can't say that is good for you or anyone, just what I plan on doing.


I went to the town offices and paid between 10 and 25 bucks for the street listing book. It's all the info they get from census. Mine gave me name of everyone in the house, address, voting registration, age, and occupation. Try going to you town hall and see if they have them for the public.

[WaterGuru]

I went to the town offices and paid between 10 and 25 bucks for the street listing book. It's all the info they get from census. Mine gave me name of everyone in the house, address, voting registration, age, and occupation. Try going to you town hall and see if they have them for the public.


I read somewhere that the Chamber of Commerce does this. Is this where you went? I have that on my list of people to call today.

[Uranus]

City/town clerks office at the town halls. Its pretty nice when you can put the addresses name on mailer instead of to resident. little personal touch. I found that if I could figure out who the wife or woman of the house was I got a better responce

[MOW PRO LAWN SERVICE]

Wondered if i could pay the bills and if it was right for me,but like every one else should have done it it much earlier.

[mountianview]

Im posting for the first time IM looking at getting into the business at almost 50, painting ,lawn mowing general property maintenance ,thanks to everyone I learned alot on this site ,the good news is Im getting some rare federal money to start my business not having to pay back dosn't reduce the stress much as its a one shot deal getting the toro z master23 hp kaw 52'', br 600 riding husky from n tool insc advertizing no clients yet scared!!

[johnny v]

Have some money stashed first in case things go wrong....

[mountianview]

They dont line my pockets, ill need to make a go of it , only 133 frost free days here, thats why ill paint etc during the winter, money dosnt grow on trees but little bushes but thats another story!!

[parkeeee]

Having done the work for years I knew that aspect. Was very apprehensive about bidding on jobs. Research on this site helped me with that.

Am legit with licenses and insurance, so bottom line... not scared.

[mountianview]

At 50 almost, I have learned alot ,taken a horticuture course a million years ago ,one of two getting an A , was outstanding in my field before getting caught, not afraid of hard work , apreciate quality equipment very production minded know alot of people etc etc guess its all down hill needed to get a business plan for the free dough its changed alot after research through others insight on this sight thanks to one and all happy holidays .

[justanotherlawnguy]

scared starting a lawn biz in FL. Nope.......you just have to do it right...

[Military Lawns]

I still work full-time for CSX as a logomotive engineer and only cut lawns part-time. Now, I know how some people feel about part-timers but, I take pride in my twenty lawns and I stay in touch with all of my customers. I was upfront and honest with all of them about my part-time status and believe it or not none of them hold me to a certain day of the week so long as it is done and done right.

Communication, honesty and fright will get you a long way.

DJ:weightlifter:

[martinfan06]

scared starting a lawn biz in FL. Nope.......you just have to do it right...

So true.......yes here in FLA there's thousands of people doing or trying to do it.....I would say less than a 1/3 are doing it right you just have to better than the next guy. Yes there is a degree of scared though, doing it right is great but you still need some luck and some good breaks to come your way.

[WJW Lawn]

Whenever you "take chances" it's scary. BUT...anyone who has ever been successful at anything has taken chances.

[JJLandscapes]

my first year part time and my second year full time where both not really scary but stressful..... Not my first business i started and everything was in cash so i had no debts to worry about and mary jane my best friend helped me through the stress

Dont go into the business with any negative thoughts in your head about failing always think positive

[mountianview]

mowing grass is alot less stressfull than growing grass !!!

[Mr.Lawn]

Talk about being scared, First time running a business for me that directly impacts my family a 110%. Thats a lot of stress. I have hope that as the time goes by and more I feel comfortable with things the better it will be.

[Grass Kickin]

Let's just say ... if it doesn't scare you, it's not an adventure worth taking. It's going to be scary, but you have to meet it head on and with determination to succeed.

agreed. I'm pulling in about 60 accounts making good money but in the back of my mind I always think about it all coming crashing down. I know it is unlikely but you have to have that healthy fear.

[Stillwater]

I Am Still Scared!

[Total.Lawn.Care]

Was not scared starting, as it was part time, and right now, still is. However, I am getting closer to the just off point and it does scare me. I either have to make the plunge in a few months, or warry about how I will get all of my accounts serviced and still make the money that I need to.

[JJLandscapes]

mowing grass is alot less stressfull than growing grass !!!

what grass we talking about.....lol

rotogro.com if its the good kind